Be a Basketball Coach or General Manager – Play a Free Online Basketball Simulation Game
Have you ever wanted to step into the shoes of an NBA coach or general manager? Pennant Chase makes that dream possible with a free online basketball simulation game that uses real historical stats to simulate games and seasons. You’ll draft players, manage rotations, set on-court strategies, and compete in leagues against other basketball fans—no arcade controls required, just pure strategy.
How to Get Started
To begin, create a free account from the basketball homepage, or if you already have an account, log in using the upper right corner. Then click the “Join League” link in the orange navigation bar. From there, you can join an Auto League or a Custom League.
Auto Leagues feature player sets from different eras—starting in 1974 when detailed stats became widely tracked—and include themed setups such as All-Time Greats or the 1990s Legends leagues. Custom Leagues are created and run by commissioners, allowing for personalized settings, rosters, and rules. (This feature is coming soon to basketball.)
What Is an Online Basketball Simulation Game?
A basketball simulation game (often called a “basketball sim”) is a strategic sports management experience where game outcomes are determined by real-world statistics and probability, not joystick skills. You act as both coach and GM—drafting historical players, setting rotations, defining defensive and offensive strategies, and managing player minutes. Once games are simulated, you can read detailed box scores and play-by-play summaries to see how your adjustments perform.
Unlike fantasy basketball, which relies on real-life NBA results, simulation games like Pennant Chase generate outcomes entirely through stat-based algorithms, meaning your virtual league can play at any pace—multiple games a day or an entire season in a week.
Simple to Learn, Deep to Master
Pennant Chase is designed to be easy to understand while still offering deep strategic challenges. You don’t need to know advanced analytics to win, but smart lineups and good rotation planning will give you the edge. Every shot, rebound, assist, and block is modeled from real player statistics, making it one of the most realistic free basketball sim games online.
Play for Free, Compete for Glory
On Pennant Chase, you can manage up to 30 basketball or baseball teams for free, plus three Hoops Playgrounds. Supporters who donate can manage up to 100 leagues and unlock up to ten Hoops Playgrounds.
Built by One Developer for the Love of the Game
This site is built and maintained by a single web developer who also works full-time, so while updates may take time, the care and authenticity behind Pennant Chase are what set it apart. Since launching its first leagues back in 2008, Pennant Chase has grown into one of the most polished and community-driven sports simulation sites online—offering the same depth you’d find in paid games that cost up to $40 per team.
You can follow your teams anywhere through the iPhone and Android apps or the mobile web version.
Play Hoops Your Way
Hoops Playground is a fast, 5-on-5 simulation with no refs and pure stat-driven gameplay—perfect for quick matches. For the full experience, our Basketball Simulation League Game lets you dive deep into full-season management.
Learn More About Basketball Sims
